Feature

Article Natalie Fieleke A plethora of reasons draws clients to Arlene Ladegaard for their kitchen reinventions. Some homeowners seek improved function for their kitchens, others want to freshen up the style of their home on a budget, while some clients pursue a completely new kitchen within their existing space which allows for endless possibilities.

Article Judy Goppert | Photography Provided Hermann, Missouri, is a lush piece of Missouri history, just a short drive or Amtrak trip away. Originally settled in 1837, this community of wineries maintains its quaint, unique feel with a never-ending array of activities to enjoy—namely, wine tasting! Wineries are all in close range of walking or the trolley or shuttle. There…

We didn’t set out to be campers. In fact, after a crazy remote Colorado experience, my husband knows sleeping in a tent isn’t an option for our family—mostly me. We enjoy city dwelling and artisan coffee and spend much of our weekends watching our kids thrive in their activities. Even though we like our comforts, we don’t want them to…

If you ever stop to wonder where the food you eat comes from, it might surprise you that a significant proportion is provided by bees in one way or another. Unfortunately, honeybees are disappearing in record numbers, but people like Kristin Simeroth, of Leawood, are avid beekeepers, and their efforts help save these pollinators.

Kansas City is a community with an essence of giving, a populace that acts when presented with a need, and a sodality that embodies lifting others up when they are down. Pair this with people willing to take a progressive approach in developing creative ways that honor the environment through the reuse of everyday materials, the repurposing of supplies, and…

The mission of the Leawood Garden Club is to beautify our homes, gardens and surroundings; exchange ideas in gardening; stimulate and encourage the love of gardening; and encourage civic beautification. We are a fun-loving group, and the club is a wonderful place to learn about gardening with our excellent garden program speakers and our Horticultural Hints. In addition, we have the Show of the Month that covers many eclectic topics.

the nursery Venturing into boy territory is a whole new world, and the nursery was kind of my first run at it. It took me awhile to finish, but well worth the wait. I fell in love with the dresser from The Land of Nod, and it was the first piece I found, so I started to pick pieces to match…

It all began when my husband and I started to establish who we were in our own home by experimenting with design. It didn’t take long to realize that we had found our passion of revitalizing homes and that we wanted to share it with others. Long story short, we began to receive phone calls asking for advice and if…

BETTER HOMES & GARDENS | KANSAS CITY HOMES | LEAWOOD Suzy Goldstein and partner Erich don’t just SELL Leawood—they live here. Standing at the helm of The Goldstein Team, their names are synonymous with setting the gold standard in the metro real estate market. They list and sell the most beautiful homes in our community, and they are revving up…

Paul Kaster is the founder of Crooked Branch Studio, a local company creating unique handmade wooden bow ties that combine craftsmanship and style. With similar qualities of a classic, fabric bow tie, these wooden ties are smooth to the touch, rich in color and adjustable, making comfort a standard of every piece. Kaster was inspired to start his own business…

Persaud Creative works with churches and nonprofits to build their brands. Michael Persaud, a native of Guyana, started Persaud Creative in 2011. Before that, he was instrumental in growing his church.

Any home renovation takes a heaping helping of know-how coupled with ambitious inspiration to effortlessly partner form and function with express aesthetics and elegance. Arlene Ladegaard, principal designer of Design Connection Inc., helped this active family of six transform the home in which they had been living for 15 years, taking it from its late 20th-century look and beautifully ushering in…

t.Loft is a growing community of health cafes focusing on fresh ingredients with gluten-free eats and drinks designed to nourish and power the body. t.Loft believes that food is fuel and living clean can be balanced with a healthy dose of fun and flavor.

Hi there! I'm Lauren, a lover of all things fashion, beauty, fitness, travel and freakishly cute dogs. I am a wife to my best friend, Zack, and a mother (or teacher) to 17 first graders. I graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and am currently pursuing a masters degree.

Fairway Eye Center cares deeply about the visual needs of the community and those who do not have access to eye care both locally and globally. They offer a complete range of optometric care services, with missionary eye care being an integral part of their business.

It’s that time of year again ... the dreaded family photos sessions. And while family photo shoots are kind of the norm in this family, they haven’t gotten easier. However, I have learned many tricks and tips for keeping the kiddos and the husband happy—and on point–to capture that “moneymaker shot” that makes the holiday card each year. Follow these…

Take the Christmas songs you know and love. Mix in lilting vocals and folksy instrumental stylings of the banjo, ukulele, glockenspiel and harmonium. Make giving the goal. And each holiday season, you have the Kansas City-based trio, The Snow Globes.

I love timeless kitchens. It's like Jackie Kennedy— I never get tired of her look. We came from Brookside before we lived here; it was the most gorgeous, simple colonial. But that house taught me to let the structure guide me in design. Colonial styles like a classic vibe and when we found this Cape Cod colonial in Leawood, I was smitten.…

Colby and Megan Garrelts are the husband-and-wife chefs and owners of Rye and Bluestem restaurants. Both chefs are proud to be from the Midwest, with savory and sweet recipes reminiscent of generations around the kitchen table.

Handmade caramelized energy. These are the words used to describe the harmonious flavors Cool Guy Foods infuse to create the most unimaginable and distinctively gourmet food, reminiscent of the smorgasbord equivalent of Billy Joel and Elton John. What makes these culinary mechanics stand out is that they truly understand what it means to provide a hands-free, comprehensive complement to an…

Imagine a warm and inviting, relaxed yet indulgent, aromatically pleasing and taste bud teasing minivacation of pure delicious euphoria. A place that is as sensory tempting as it is abundantly satisfying and as aesthetically lovely as the carefully crafted treats are delightful. A place where anybody can come and enjoy a scrumptious experience, unwind in a comfortable space, and engage…

Bowles Dental Center practices family, implant and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Bowles is devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures that will result in beautiful, long-lasting smiles. Practicing with Dr. Bowles is Dr. Anne Atha who has been an invaluable addition to the practice. The office would not be what it is today…

It started at the tender age of 7 for Caitlyn Donahue. The road led to volleyball success at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, and now she is giving back to the community as a teacher/coach at Blue Valley Southwest High School. “My dad, David, played the sport for most of his adult life, and I vividly remember tagging…

National barbecue champion Rob Magee serves his award-winning wood-fire grilled fare at Q39. Named after its first location off of 39th Street in Midtown that opened in 2014, they recently expanded with their second location in southern Overland Park in August.

I am Mary Burger, and I am the designer for Jet Couture Jewels. Jewelry designing is a creative process that involves imagination and visual artistry, the product of which can tell a story, evoke an emotion or offer a glimpse into the past that words cannot express.

I started Dolyn Bags in January of 2014, after graduating from Stephens College with a bachelor's in apparel studies. I bought a large industrial machine and a bunch of scrap hides and began designing my first pieces out of my grandmother’s basement. Since my education was in apparel, there were many failed attempts at the perfect bag! I obsessed over…

Leawood resident Becky Hillyard is Lifestyle Publications' newest monthly fashion contributor and the woman behind Cella Jane, a lifestyle and fashion blog which showcases her personal style on a daily basis. Thousands of followers both local and global go to Hillyard for fashion, beauty, motherhood and fitness advice; she offers inspiration to the everyday woman on the latest trends.

What began with a desire to update a family room turned into an entire first-floor remodeling project. After Arlene Ladegaarrd, owner and principal designer of Design Connection Inc., met with the owners of this Leawood home to discuss the project, she assessed the family’s needs were not being effectively met with the current first floor plan and came up with…

“God did not just create us for one thing; he created us for everything. My journey has taken me to dance.” According to James “SugEasy” Singleton, everyone is born knowing how to dance. It is an argument that he has often successfully debated, but it is also this belief that is a driving force within a profession that seems to…

Troost Avenue is widely regarded as one of Kansas City’s most prominent dividing boundaries. Since the 1800s, the road has divided ethnic and racial communities between its western and eastern sides. It’s fitting, then, that an organization seeking to bring unity and community to the forefront of their cause has taken up residence along that same road.

Ariel Thompson is a ceramic artist and jewelry designer based in Kansas City. Inspired by functional beauty, she creates timeless pieces to make any woman feel confident as her best self. Her small run jewelry line and hand-picked elements create unique styles for the modern woman building a whimsical life.

Many fans of music may believe that all guitar players are basically the same. Those who sit in the audience when local musician Lester Estelle Sr. plays know otherwise. With unorthodox tuning, unconventional technique and undeniable passion, it is evident to even the most casual listener that his style is one of a kind. His ability and talent transcends genre…

In 2014, Leslie Brett embarked on a path of floral creativity with longtime friend Chuck Matney and today their business, The Little Flower Shop at the Westwood Hills Shops, is in full bloom. Enter through one front door of the cozy shop, and you’ll see floral designers at work fashioning everything from single stems or a $25 grab-and-go bouquet to…

Tavern at Mission Farms is an American-style restaurant located in Mission Farms. It features a diverse menu with an elevated twist on American classics. Great salads, sandwiches and seafood including a fresh catch of the day, as well as the hand-cut steaks, pastas and brunch dishes are all prepared fresh and tweaked in such a way that makes them unique…

No need to pack a suitcase—just pack this short list. Be a fan. Be one with nature—or not. Learn the backstory of your favorite summer brew. Be transported to an ancient culture. Meet some cool cats. Indulge in amazing eats—not just barbecue. Kansas City is where it’s at for amazing summer adventures.

In taking a brisk walk on Grand Boulevard near downtown Kansas City, it would be easy to stroll right past this inconspicuous establishment. But, by engaging in a more leisurely pace, a glance up would reveal a golden key which seems to direct the way to a vast black door with flattering accents. The air of mystery and intrigue will…

David Beal's contemporary and classic oil portraits not only convey a likeness of the sitter, but it’s said his work captures the spirit and character of the individual subject. Beal began his professional painting career while in his teenage years in upstate Ohio. At the age of 16, he was recognized by President Gerald Ford for his large-scale murals, depictions…

George Nigro has been announcing at auctions and chanting for charity since his teens. Still going strong nearly 40 years later, he and his band of brothers spend several nights a week calling for cash in a city full of philanthropists.

There are stories of motherhood that sit deep in the soul, grapple with emotions and send waves of inspiration that challenge everything known about a mother’s love. For Julie Chamberlin and Jenise Miller, their story encompasses this but is also one wrapped in faith, hope and sacrifice. It is a story worthy of praise and a tale of motherhood that…

Kindra Browne, founder of SimpIe Elegance, began her career in the wedding industry in 1996 when the need to find something she could do on her own while balancing the demands of raising a family was her reality.